Setting the Pace to Graduate Date1 Parent Mentor Partnership September 2013

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Learning Targets I can identify vital behaviors related to improving graduation rates and decreasing dropout rates. I can support the efforts of school teams to improve graduation rates and decrease dropout rates. 5/9/20153

GraduateFIRST is a nationally recognized initiative that utilizes a data-driven intervention framework to successfully address barriers to graduation for students with disabilities. 5/9/20154

GraduateFIRST Partners Funded by GA’s State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) Grant from Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) 5/9/20155

GraduateFIRST Partners National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) GaDOE Division of Special Education Services and Supports GaDOE School Improvement Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS) 5/9/20156

7 are participating in GraduateFIRST. 90 schools across Georgia… Today 90 schools across Georgia… 5/9/2015

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GraduateFIRST Organizational Structure GaDOE Design Team GraduateFIRST staff Regional Collaboration Coaches School Teams School-based GraduateFIRST Team Leaders 5/9/20159

GraduateFIRST Organizational Structure GaDOE Design Team GraduateFIRST staff Regional Collaboration Coaches School Teams School-based GraduateFIRST Team Leaders 5/9/201510

11 GraduateFIRST Common Core Components 5/9/2015

GraduateFIRST Common Core Components 1. Establish an effective School Team and identify the Team Leader responsible for the implementation of the School Action Plan 5/9/201512

GraduateFIRST Common Core Components 2. Collect and analyze data 3. Use data prioritize areas of need and to select and monitor a target students 4. Use data to develop School Action Plans 5/9/201513

GraduateFIRST Common Core Components 5. Implement and monitor School Action Plan with fidelity 6. Evaluate the effectiveness of School Action Plans 5/9/201514

Collaboration Coaches Trained by the NDPC-SD Focus on helping schools achieve positive student outcomes especially for a target group of students Use a blended model of coaching including onsite coaching 5/9/201515

Behavior Course Performance Attendance 16 GraduateFIRST ABCs Family and Community Engagement BelongingRelationships Self-Determination 5/9/2015

GraduateFIRST ABCs Focus on Attendance, Behavior, and Course Performance Helping students develop a sense of belonging, develop caring relationships, and self-determination All of these dimensions are underpinned by strong family and community engagement 5/9/201517

GraduateFIRST & Student Engagement The GraduateFIRST model is based upon the NDPC-SD framework and the multi- dimensional construct of student engagement. Fostering student engagement relies not only on the ABCs, but also a focus on the dimensions of affective, cognitive, and family engagement. 5/9/201518

 Affective Engagement  Academic Engagement  Behavioral Engagement  Cognitive Engagement  Family & Community Engagement 19 Focus on Student Engagement Sandra Christenson Check and Connect 5/9/2015

 Affective Engagement  Academic Engagement  Behavioral Engagement  Cognitive Engagement  Family & Community Engagement 20 Focus on Student Engagement Sandra Christenson Check and Connect 5/9/2015

Student Engagement  Affective Engagement Developing caring relationships with adults Sense of School connectedness School bonding Mentoring 5/9/ Sandra Christenson Check and Connect

 Affective Engagement  Academic Engagement  Behavioral Engagement  Cognitive Engagement  Family & Community Engagement 22 Focus on Student Engagement Sandra Christenson Check and Connect 5/9/2015 Attendance

Student Engagement Cognitive Engagement Students ‘ investment in the learning Setting learning goals Self-efficacy Self-determination Motivation 5/9/ Sandra Christenson Check and Connect

 Affective Engagement  Academic Engagement  Behavioral Engagement  Cognitive Engagement  Family & Community Engagement 24 Focus on Student Engagement Sandra Christenson Check and Connect 5/9/2015

Vital Behaviors to Improve Graduation Rates Using the form provided, please select the areas of the GraduateFIRST model that these vital behaviors support. Identify all of the areas that apply. 5/9/201525

Behavior Course Performance Attendance 26 GraduateFIRST ABCs Family and Community Engagement BelongingRelationships Self-Determination 5/9/2015

For best performance outcomes, address all engagement areas for your target group of students. 27 Best Performance Outcomes 5/9/2015

28 Attend Engage Invest Sandra Christenson Check and Connect 5/9/2015

GraduateFIRST Fundamentals Modules 29 5/9/2015

30 fundamentals.org

Fundamentals Start with the GraduateFIRST Overview Module 1: Implementing GraduateFIRST Module 2: Supporting Student Engagement Data Day Module 3: Academic Engagement Module 4: Behavioral Engagement Module 5 Cognitive Engagement Module 6: Family & Community Engagement 5/9/201531

Georgia Department of Education's State PersonnelDevelopment Grant (SPDG) GraduateFIRST Assessment Tool Mind

GraduateFIRST Assessment Tool Charting 5/9/201533

Importance of Tracking the Data Choose a reasonable number of students (10-12 students with disabilities) Contact families with the information on ABCs Review student survey results to check for a sense of school connectedness, developing of caring relationships with adults, and cognitive engagement Follow-up with families monthly or by grading periods 5/9/201534

Steps for Getting Started Discuss with your Special Education Director Contact the school’s GraduateFIRST Team Leader or principal Discuss how you can support the school’s efforts to increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates. 5/9/201535